Package for resilient elements or those stored under spring pressure

ABSTRACT

A package for storing resilient elements such as automotive springs, foam pads or hair rollers, stacked one upon the other, in which a container is provided at one end with a member which supports and prevents passage of the element to be stored, and at the other end with an interior lipped edge which permits passage of the element. The elements are held in compressed configuration by a flexible, distortable cup that is shaped such that its top edge abuts the lip of the container, thus causing closure of the container. To remove the resilient element, pressure is applied to one side of the upper edge of the cup so as to tilt and distort the cup, permitting its removal. The spring tension under which the resilient elements are stored then forces them out of the container. The principle is also applied to the storage of nonresilient elements under spring pressure.

United States Patent [72] inventor lra Leonard Eisner E 93 WoodridgeDrive, Stamford, Conn. 06905 [21 1 Appl. No. 882,465

[22] Filed Dec. 5, 1969 (45] Patented Nov. 16, 1971 [54] PACKAGE FORRESILIENT ELEMENTS OR THOSE STORED UNDER SPRING PRESSURE 15 Claims, 15Drawing Figs.

2,966,280 12/1960 Nelson 3l2/7IX Primary Examiner-Stanley H. TollbergAltorney- Louis Altman ABSTRACT: A package for storing resilientelements such as automotive springs, foam pads or hair rollers, stackedone upon the other, in' which a container is provided at one end with amember which supports and prevents passage of the element to be stored,and at the other end with an interior lipped edge which permits passageof the element. The elements are held in compressed configuration by aflexible, distortable cup that is shaped such that its top edge abutsthe lip of the container, thus causing closure of the container. Toremove the resilient element, pressure is applied to one side of theupper edge of the cup so as to tilt and distort the cup. permitting itsremoval. The spring tension under which the resilient elements arestored then forces them out of the container. The principle is alsoapplied to the storage of nonresilient elements under spring pressure.

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INVEN'I'UR.

RA LEONARD EISNER ATTORNEY PATENTEBHUV 16 ml FIGII SHEET 3 OF 3 JNVENTORIRA LEONARD EISNER ATTORNEY PACKAGE FOR RESILIENT ELEMENTS OR THOSESTORED UNDER SPRING PRESSURE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The inventionconcerns packages for storing resilient elements under compression, ornonresilient elements under spring pressure.

THE PRIOR ART There are many prior art devices which permit efficientstorage of resilient elements (such as innerspring cushions, automotivesprings, foam pads, and the like), wherein the elements are stacked oneupon the other and then compressed; but the mode of engagement anddisengagement of capping or locking members designed to maintain theresilient elements in their compressed position is often inconvenientand even unsafe. For example, when such resilient elements aremaintained under compression by a lid fitting over the container, or bystraps or clamps, considerable care must be taken to prevent theresilient elements from being forced out of the container in anuncontrollable manner when the lid, strap or clamp is loosened, so as toavoid personal injury or inconvenience. Furthermore, means forguaranteeing safety in disengaging capping or locking members often areof such dimensions and intricacy of design as both to reduce theconvenience of storage and to add substantially to the expense ofmanufacturing the containers. Similar problems are encountered in thestorage of nonresilient objects under spring pressure.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of thisinvention is to provide a package for resilient elements from which suchelements may be removed or reinserted, conveniently and quickly, withoutdanger of personal injury due to uncontrolled expulsion of the resilientelements from the container. A further object of the invention is toprovide a package for nonresilient elements under spring pressure. Anadditional object is to provide such packages which are simple in designand economical to manufacture. These and other objects, features andadvantages will be apparent from the following description.

In summary, the package of the invention comprises a hollow containerand a restraining member, the container having an opening and beingshaped to receive a plurality of elements, at least one of which isresilient, stacked therein one upon another. The container has meansadapted to support and to prevent passage of said elements out of saidcontainer, and the opening of said package has an interior lip adaptedto permit passage of said elements, but not of the restraining member,when the member is in a nondistorted configuration. Typically, therestraining member comprises a cup of flexible, distortable materialhaving walls sloping inwardly from top to bottom such that when the cupis in a nondistorted configuration it may be positioned within thecontainer with its top abutting the lip to prevent passage of theelements. The cup is thereafter easily disengaged, however, by applyingpressure on one edge, thereby permitting the elements to be removed fromthe container.

The attached drawings, which exemplify the invention by illustratingpreferred embodiments, include:

FIG. I, a fragmentary perspective view of a package in accordance withthis invention, having resilient elements contained therein and emergingtherefrom;

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, fragmentary vertical sections of the same package,showing successive steps in the engagement of a restraining member ofthe invention;

FIG. 5, a side elevational view, with parts sectioned for clarity ofillustration, of the same package, fully loaded, and a restrainingmember shown in disengaged and engaged positions relative thereto;

FIG. 6, a similar view of the same package, showing restraining membersin fully engaged position and resilient elements in storage therein;

FIG. 13, an elevational view of a single golf ball and a singlerestraining member from the package of FIG. 12; and

FIGS. 14 and 15, vertical sections of alternative forms of containersfor use with the embodiments of FIGS. 11 through 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As illustrated in FIG.1, a hollow cylindrical container 10, formed of a material such as heavycardboard, is adapted to receive several generally cylindrical resilientelements 30. all inserted axially therein, and stacked axially one uponthe other. In a typical application of this invention, these resilientelements might be metal springs 31 coiled helically and covered with anetting of plastic threads 33, for use as womens hair-curler forms. Suchhair curlers are used by women in such quantities that the space theyoccupy can be a problem when the curlers are packed for travel or evenstored at home. But the bulk of these hair curlers can be drasticallyreduced by axial compression. The package of FIGS. 1-10 retains suchcurlers, or other resilient objects, in a compressed and thereforecompact condition, yet releases them safely when they are removed foruse.

The container 10 is provided with a metal upper rim ll erimped thereto,and the rim is formed with an interior lip 12. A plurality of circularrestraining members 20 are interspersed between the resilient elements30, each member 20 being manufactured of a flexible, distortablematerial such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride and the like, andhaving a cuplike shape with walls 22 sloping radially inwardly from topto bottom. These walls are of dimensions such that when the restrainingmember or cup 20 is inserted axially into the container 10 in theposition and manner illustrated by FIGS. 2 through 4, the upper edge 21of the wall 22 deforms radially inwardly (see arrow 27 in FIG. 3) as itslips past the rim I1, and thereafter expands radially outwardly intoengagement with the lower lip I2 as indicated by arrow 25 in FIG. 4. Incontrast, the'lower edge 23 of the cup 20, having a smaller diameterthan the upper edge 21, can move freely past lip I2 as seen in FIG. 2.

Each restraining cup 20 also includes a horizontal, diametricallyextending web forming a floor 24 which restrains the vertical movementof resilient curlers 30. As is apparent from FIGS. 1 and 2, whenever anycup 20 is pressed down against one or more resilient curlers 30 and cups20, which are already within the container 10, the latter are forcedfarther down into the container until Lthe edge 21 of the new cup 20engages lip 12. Thus does the latest restraining cup 20 to be insertedinto the container 10 always cooperate with the container to form astable closure for all members 20 and 30 previously inserted. Each cup20 is forced downwardly (see arrow 29 of FIG. 2) into container 10against the urging of the spring curlers 30 already inside thecontainer. Thereafter, despite the continued upward urging (arrow I9 ofFIG. 4) of one or more curler springs 30 in the container 10, the upperedge 21 engages lip 12, thereby locking the last cup 20 in place, andimprisoning in the container I0 all previously inserted curlers 30 andthe cups 20 interspersed between them.

FIG. 5 demonstrates how each successive restraining cup 20 can bepressed axially into stacking relationship with previously inserted cups20 and resilient curlers 30, by simply pressing down approximately inthe center of the cup 20 with one finger 17. It also illustrates thespace-saving manner in which the curlers 30 are compressed axiallyagainst a metal floor 13 which is crimped to the lower end of container10.

In FIG. 6 the container is depicted with a full load of stored resilientcurlers 30 and restraining cups interspersed therewith, topped by aremovable cover 35 of plastic or similar material, which makes afriction or snap fit about the rim 1 l.

The resilient curlers 30 may be easily disengaged and removed from thecontainer 10, as shown in FIG. 7, by exerting slight downward pressure(arrow 37) with one finger 17, at any location radially displaced fromthe center of the topmost cup 20. When this is done, the resilientcurlers 30 within the container 10 are compressed eccentrically belowthe cup 20, permitting the cup to tilt as seen in FIG. 7. As the cuptilts, its upper edge 21 moves radially inwardly (arrow 45) far enoughto disengage from the lip 12 of rim 11 at a location diametricallyopposite the point of finger pressure. Such disengagement frees theuppermost cup 20, which then escapes from the container 10 by a sequenceof steps illustrated in FIGS. 7 through 10 respectively: As the cuptilts, it aims" one of its curved sides 22 obliquely upwardly throughthe top of the container, one side of it emerges at point 47 (FIGS. 7and 8), and a portion of the cup strikes the rim 11 at points 43 (FIG.8). Then, although edge 21 strikes the rim 11, the tilted orientation ofthe cup prevents it from engaging the lip 12. Instead, the walls 22present their curved side surface to the rim 11 in such a way that thewalls 22 cam past the rim 1], deforming elliptically in the process, asindicated by arrows 41 in FIG. 9, to squeeze through the restrictedopening of rim 11. As a result, the cup 20 slips entirely out of thecontainer 10, as seen in FIG. 10. This releases the immediatelyunderlying resilient curler 30, permitting it to be removed from thecontainer 10. One important function of the cap 35, depicted in FIG. 6,is to prevent unintentional insertion of an object into the open top ofthe container 10, which might accidentally perform the release operationjust described.

It will be readily appreciated that, as the uppermost cup escapes, it ispropelled upwardly by the concomitant expansion of the resilient curler30 immediately therebelow. But FIG. 7 illustrates why this situationdoes not produce an explosive, uncontrolled escape of either the cup 20or curler 30. The user's finger 17, which must be in the illustratedposition order toinitiate the described release procedure, engages thecrotch formed at the intersection of the wall 22 and floor 24 of the cup20. This engagement restrains the cup, which in turn restrains theexpansion and escape of thecurler 30. The result is that the uppermostcup and curler escape only at the speed at which the user deliberatelywithdraws his finger 17 after unlatching the cup 20.

All the restraining cups 20 and resilient curlers 30 stacked in thecontainer 10 may be removed, one by one, in the same manner. But as eachrestraining cup in turn is removed, the next one therebelow follows itupwardly, and engages the lip 12. This prevents any of the resilientcurlers except the uppermost one from popping one from popping out ofthe container 10 when the uppermost one is removed. Thus the lowercurlers do not fly out of the container, but are controllably retainedtherein. They can be safely removed in sequence, as desired, byrepeating the extraction operation (FIGS. 7-10) for each cup 20 insuccession.

The containers of this invention are not restricted to any particulardimensions or cross-sectional geometry; but may be cylindrical, square,hexagonal, or any shape suitable for storing resilient elements.Likewise, the shape of the container may or may not coincide with theshape of the resilient elements to be stored, and resilient elements ofvarious sizes and shaped may be enclosed simultaneously within the samecontainer.

It will be evident from the attached drawings that the hollow above thefloor 24 of the uppermost cup 20 may provide storage space for smallitems such as hair pins, with the cap 35 serving to retain the hair pinswithin the container 10. In addition, the cups 20 are designed fornesting one within the other, so that when difi'erent numbers of haircurlers 30 are stored, any excess cups 20 may be conveniently stored inthe container 10, in nested relationship with any of the other cups 20.It will also be appreciated that this package may hold hair rollers ofdifferent lengths and diameters, up to the maximum size of the container10.

The invention is not limited in its application to the packag ing ofresilient objects, such as the hair curlers illustrated in FIGS. 1through 10. It is applicable also to. the packaging of substantiallynonresilient objects, such as beer cans, golf balls, etc., which arepacked in a container having a feed spring which delivers the containedobjects one by one to the container opening.

In this connection, the invention is an improvement over the type ofpackage illustrated in Ring US. Pat. No. 3,263,806, concerning a tallcylindrical container having thermally insulated walls and acompressible coil spring, the container being adapted to hold aplurality of objects in axially stacked relationship, so that the springdelivers one at a time to the container opening. The thermal insulationmakes it particularly suitable for carrying cold beverage bottles.

The Ring structure is subject to the difficulty that a bottle may beexpelled violently, or more than one bottle may be expelled at a time,unless the feed spring is perfectly designed. Moreover, any such designis applicable only to objects of a given weight; so that a differentspring is required if objects of any other weight are put in thecontainer. In accordance with the present invention, however, packagesof the type exemplified by FIGS. 11 and 12 may be designed for safe,one-byone release of the contained objects, without the need forcritical spring force calculations, and regardless of the weight of thecontained objects.

The package of FIG. 11 is particularly designed to carry a plurality oftin cans 130, stacked axially one upon the other for convenientcarrying, and storage in a minimum of floor space. A container for thestacked cans is formed of a thermally insulating material, assuming thecans 130 contain cold beverages or the like. The container is providedwith a thermally insulated transverse bottom member 113, and a helicallycoiled feed spring 131 which reacts against the bottom member to exertan upward biasing force upon a pusher member 133 in the form of ashallow cylindrical dish which moves vertically in the interior of thecontainer 110, piston fashion. The pusher member serves as a buffer toprevent the lowermost can 130 from becoming entangled in the feed spring131.

lnterspersed between adjacent cans 130 are a plurality of restrainingmembers 120, the uppermost one of which cooperates with an interior lip112 of a rim 11] surrounding an opening at the upper end of thecontainer 1 10. Each of the restraining elements is generally cup-shapedand circular in cross section, and includes a rounded bottom web 124, anupstanding conically slanted wall 122, and a horizontal annular flangewhich joins the upper edge of the bottom member 124 to the lower edge ofthe conical wall 122. The wall 122 has an upper edge 121 which engagesthe interior lip 1 12.

The spring 131 forces the pusher 133 and all of the cans and theirinterspersed restraining members 120 upwardly toward the top opening ofthe container 110. However, the upper edge of the uppermost restrainingmember 120 engages the interior lip 112 to prevent its exit, and theexit of all objects therebelow. When the user wishes to withdraw asingle can 130, he can do so in the manner discussed above, by pressingdownwardly at an eccentric location on the uppermost restraining member120. The curvature of the rounded bottom member 124 at this time allowsthe restraining member 120 to roll over the flat upper surface of thecan 130, resulting in rocking, tilting movement which dislodges the edge121 from the interior lip 112, and permits deformation and withdrawal ofthe uppermost restraining member 120 in the manner which is familiarfrom the discussion of the preceding FIGS. The walls 122 of therestraining members 120 are, of course, deformable radially inwardly,which permits such withdrawal. It also permits initial insertion pastthe rim 111 and into the interior of the container 1 10, after which thewalls 122 snap radially outwardly to engage the interior lip 1 12.

A cap 135 is placed over the too of the container 110 after it is fullyloaded, to prevent accidental disengagement of the uppermost restrainingmember 120. The cap may also be a thermally insulated member, if thetemperature of the contained objects 130 is important.

A change in the configuration of the restaining members allows theinvention to be used for storage of differently shaped nonresilientobjects, such as golf balls 230, stored in the package of P16 12. Herethe package comprises a container 210 having a bottom closure element213 and a feed spring 231 which reacts against that closure element. Apusher member 233 is biased upwardly through the interior of thecontainer 210, piston fashion, and serves to prevent the golf balls 230from becoming wedged in the interior of the feed spring 231. Restrainingmembers 220 are interposed between adjacent golf balls 230, and eachsuch member comprises a concave bottom web 224, designed to nestcompactly against the convex upper surface of the golf balls. They alsocomprise an upwardly extending conically slanted wall 222 joined to theperiphery of the bottom web 224. The upper edge 221 of the wall 222 isdesigned to engage with the interior lip 212 of a rim 211 whichsurrounds an upper opening of the container 210. The wall 222 isresiliently deformable radially inwardly to permit insertion of therestraining members 220, after which they snap radially outwardly intoengagement with the lip 212.

In order to understand how the golf balls are withdrawn, the reader willnote that the radium of curvature of the bottom members 224 is somewhatless than the radius of curvature of the confronting surface of the golfballs 230. This permits the uppermost restraining member 220 to berocked, by eccentric finger pressure, relative to the uppermost golfball 230, as seen in FIG. 13. This dislodges the upper restrainingmember edge 221 from the lip 212 at a location diametrically oppositethe pressure location, after which the uppermost restraining member 220is deformed and withdrawn in the manner described above in connectionwith the preceding FIGS.

The advantage of the packages illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12 is thatafter the uppermost restraining member 120 or 220 is removed, the feelspring 131 or 231 raises the uppermost tin can 130 or golf ball 230above the level of the top opening of the container 110 or 210, so thatit can be manually grasped and withdrawn. However, the advance of thestack of contained objects is terminated when the next uppermostrestraining member 120 or 220 comes into engagement with the interiorlip 112 or 212. Thus only one object is dispensed at a time. inaddition, the pressure of the user's hand upon the uppermost restrainingmember 120 or 220, as he dislodges and withdraws it, prevents violentexpulsion of even one stored objcct 130 or 230.

The embodiment of FIGS. 12 and 13 is particularly well adapted to thepackaging of fragile objects, such as Christmas ornaments, eggs, and thelike, if the cross section of container 210 is elliptical, egg shaped,or any other appropriate configuration. In that type of application, theforce exerted by the spring 231 would be insufficient to crush theobjects, but would serve to keep them under enough pressure to preventthem from moving axially of the container 210, thus protecting them fromdamage. The objects may be removed from the container one at a time in acontrolled manner, and after each one is taken out the spring 231 movesup to protect the remaining objects in the same manner.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show that the approach of FIGS. 11 through 13 can becarried out with a feed spring which is not contained within thepackage. If the walls of a container 310 or 410 are made so that theycan be axially foreshortened, as for example by using a bellowsconfiguration 310.1 or 410.1

which extends over all or part of the containers axial extent, then theupward feeding of golf balls 230 and their interspersed restraining cups220 may be accomplished without placing a feed spring within theinterior of the container. The spring may be arranged externally to pullor push upwardly on the container floor 313. For example, a spring canbe mounted below the container floor, or it may helically surround thewalls 310, 310.1 and hook under the container floor. Preferably,however, a helical metal spring 331 is embedded within the folds of thebellows walls 310.1, thus making a resilient bellows and feed springassembly out of the elements 310.1 and 331. The structure of FIG. 14 isbest manufactured by forming the container 310 of a moldable plasticmaterial, and molding it about the spring 331. A preferred plasticmaterial for this application is linear polypropylene, selected for itsresistance to flexure in'the bellows folds, although rubber may also besatisfactory. It is also possible that, at least for some applications,the plastic bellows 310.1 may in itself have enough resilience to servethe feed spring function, without using a metal spring at all. In FIG.15 the latter approach is carried out using a container 410 which ismade of a metal with high flexure resistance, such as phosphor bronze,and is formed with an inherently resilient bellows 410.1 covering all orpart of the axial extent thereof.

It will now be realized that, in each of its embodiments, the presentinvention provides a convenient and compact package for elements whichare stored under spring pressure. a package from which these elementscan be withdrawn one at a time in a manner which is safe, controlled,and convenient.

In view of the foregoing description it will be apparent that theinvention is not limited to the specific details set forth therein forthe purposes of illustration, and that various other modifications areequivalent for the stated and illustrated functions without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention.

1 claim:

1. A package for storing elements, said package comprising thecombination of: a hollow container and a restraining member; saidrestraining member having a shape such as to define an axial directionand a radial direction, and being resiliently radially compressible;said container having an opening, and being shaped to store a pluralityof elements, including said restraining element, all of said storedelements being arranged in substantial alignment within said container,and at least one of said elements other than said restraining elementbeing resiliently compressible in the direction of said alignment; theopening of said container having an interior lip adapted to permitpassage of at least one of said stored elements, but not of saidrestraining member when said restraining member is not radiallycompressed; said restraining member having a geometry such that whensaid member is not radially compressed and is positioned within saidcontainer driven into abutting said opening and said resilient storedelement, and is driven into abutting engagement with said interior lipof said container said restraining member responds by aligning itselfaxially with the direction of alignment of said other element orelements stored in said container; said restraining member beingsufficiently rigid in the axial direction to resist deformation inresponse to axial compression against said container lip whereby toprevent passage through said container opening of any elements stored onthe opposite side of said restraining member from said containeropening; said member being removable by pressure to misalign the axis ofsaid restraining member relative to the direction of alignment of saidstored elements; said restraining member then being sufficientlyradially compressible against said container lipby the force of one ormore of said resilient elements stored in compression on said oppositeside thereof to release said lip engagement and allow said restrainingmember to pass out of said container opening, whereby at least one ofsaid elements stored on said opposite side of said restraining member isremovable from said container.

2. The package of claim 1 in combination with a plurality of resilientelements and a restraining member positioned between said elements andsaid container opening; said resilient elements being compressed withinsaid container so as to force said restraining member against saidinterior lip for engagement therewith.

3. The package of claim 2 wherein said resilient elements are hairrollers; and said restraining member is a cup adapted to receive hairpins.

4. The package of claim 3 wherein there are a plurality of saidrestraining members interspersed between said hair curlers.

5. The package of claim 1 wherein said container is adapted to receive acapping element over said opening.

6. The package of claim 1 wherein said restraining member has a cuplikeconfiguration including a transverse member for restraining saidresilient element; a wall upstanding from the periphery of saidtransverse member and tapering radially outwardly; said wall beingresiliently flexible radially inwardly; and the largest diameter of saidtapered wall being sized to entersaid container opening by passing saidinterior lip with radially inward deformation, and thereafter to springradially outwardly into engagement therewith.

7. The package of claim 6 wherein the dimensions of said interior lipand said largest wall diameter are such that tilting pressure on saidrestraining cup member at one eccentric location displaces said wallthereof radially from said engagement with said interior lip at adiametrically opposite location; and said wall when tilted anddisengaged is able to slip out of said container past said interior lip.

8. The package of claim 7 wherein said container, interior lip andrestraining cup member all have a curved cross-sectional shape; and saidcup member, when tilted, presents a radially outwardly facing convexsurface to said interior lip, and is deformable, whereby to cam pastsaid interior lip for disengagement therefrom.

9. The package of claim 1 in combination with at least one restrainingmember and one resilient element; said package being adapted to store atleast one substantially nonresilient element between said restrainingmember and said resilient element; said resilient element beingcompressible relative to said supporting means, and arranged to biassaid nonresilient element toward said opening to force said restrainingmember against said interior lip for engagement therewith.

10. The package of claim 9 wherein a surface of said restraining memberwhich overlies a surface of said nonresilient element, when both are insaid container, is so shaped, in relation to the shape of saidnonresilient element surface, as to permit rocking of said restrainingmember relative to said nonresilient element for disengagement of saidmember from said interior lip.

11. The package of claim 4 wherein said restraining members are adaptedto nest one within another.

12. A package for storing elements, said package comprising thecombination of: a hollow container and a restraining member; saidrestraining member having a shape such as to define an axial directionand a radial direction. and being resiliently radially compressible;said container having an opening, and being shaped to store a pluralityof elements including said restraining element, all of said storedelements being arranged in substantial alignment within said container;said container having means to bias any of said elements containedtherein toward said opening; the opening of said container having aninterior lip adapted to pennit passage of at least one of said storedelements, but not of said restraining member when said restrainingmember is not radially compressed said restraining member having ageometry such that when said member is not radially compressed and ispositioned within said container between said opening and said resilientstored element, and is driven into abutting engagement with saidinterior lip of said container said restraining member responds byaligning itself axially with the direction of alignment of said otherelement or elements stored in said container; said restraining memberbeing sufficiently rigid in the axial direction to resist deformation inresponse to axial compression against said container lip whereby toprevent passage through said container opening of any elements stored onthe opposite side of said restraining member from said containeropening; said member being removable by pressure to misalign the axis ofsaid restraining member relative to the direction of alignment of saidstored elements; said restraining member then being sufiicientlyradially compressible against said container lip by the force of saidbiasing means to release said lip engagement and allow said restrainingmember to pass out of said container opening, whereby at least one ofsaid elements stored on said opposite side of said restraining member isremovable from said container.

13. The package of claim 12 wherein said biasing means is a resilientmember acting to bias said supporting means toward said opening.

14. The package of claim 13 wherein said resilient member is a bellowsformed integrally with the walls of said container, and having atendency to contract in a manner to shorten said container.

15. The package of claim 1 wherein said restraining member has a concaveconfiguration including a bottom for restraining said resilient elementand a periphery tapering radially outwardly; said periphery beingresiliently flexible radially inwardly; and the largest diameter of saidperiphery being sized to enter said container opening by passing saidinterior lip with radially inward deformation, and thereafter to springradially outwardly into engagement therewith.

It l I

1. A package for storing elements, said package comprising thecombination of: a hOllow container and a restraining member; saidrestraining member having a shape such as to define an axial directionand a radial direction, and being resiliently radially compressible;said container having an opening, and being shaped to store a pluralityof elements, including said restraining element, all of said storedelements being arranged in substantial alignment within said container,and at least one of said elements other than said restraining elementbeing resiliently compressible in the direction of said alignment; theopening of said container having an interior lip adapted to permitpassage of at least one of said stored elements, but not of saidrestraining member when said restraining member is not radiallycompressed; said restraining member having a geometry such that whensaid member is not radially compressed and is positioned within saidcontainer driven into abutting said opening and said resilient storedelement, and is driven into abutting engagement with said interior lipof said container said restraining member responds by aligning itselfaxially with the direction of alignment of said other element orelements stored in said container; said restraining member beingsufficiently rigid in the axial direction to resist deformation inresponse to axial compression against said container lip whereby toprevent passage through said container opening of any elements stored onthe opposite side of said restraining member from said containeropening; said member being removable by pressure to misalign the axis ofsaid restraining member relative to the direction of alignment of saidstored elements; said restraining member then being sufficientlyradially compressible against said container lip by the force of one ormore of said resilient elements stored in compression on said oppositeside thereof to release said lip engagement and allow said restrainingmember to pass out of said container opening, whereby at least one ofsaid elements stored on said opposite side of said restraining member isremovable from said container.
 2. The package of claim 1 in combinationwith a plurality of resilient elements and a restraining memberpositioned between said elements and said container opening; saidresilient elements being compressed within said container so as to forcesaid restraining member against said interior lip for engagementtherewith.
 3. The package of claim 2 wherein said resilient elements arehair rollers; and said restraining member is a cup adapted to receivehair pins.
 4. The package of claim 3 wherein there are a plurality ofsaid restraining members interspersed between said hair curlers.
 5. Thepackage of claim 1 wherein said container is adapted to receive acapping element over said opening.
 6. The package of claim 1 whereinsaid restraining member has a cuplike configuration including atransverse member for restraining said resilient element; a wallupstanding from the periphery of said transverse member and taperingradially outwardly; said wall being resiliently flexible radiallyinwardly; and the largest diameter of said tapered wall being sized toenter said container opening by passing said interior lip with radiallyinward deformation, and thereafter to spring radially outwardly intoengagement therewith.
 7. The package of claim 6 wherein the dimensionsof said interior lip and said largest wall diameter are such thattilting pressure on said restraining cup member at one eccentriclocation displaces said wall thereof radially from said engagement withsaid interior lip at a diametrically opposite location; and said wallwhen tilted and disengaged is able to slip out of said container pastsaid interior lip.
 8. The package of claim 7 wherein said container,interior lip and restraining cup member all have a curvedcross-sectional shape; and said cup member, when tilted, presents aradially outwardly facing convex surface to said interior lip, and isdeformable, whereby to cam past said interior lip for disenGagementtherefrom.
 9. The package of claim 1 in combination with at least onerestraining member and one resilient element; said package being adaptedto store at least one substantially nonresilient element between saidrestraining member and said resilient element; said resilient elementbeing compressible relative to said supporting means, and arranged tobias said nonresilient element toward said opening to force saidrestraining member against said interior lip for engagement therewith.10. The package of claim 9 wherein a surface of said restraining memberwhich overlies a surface of said nonresilient element, when both are insaid container, is so shaped, in relation to the shape of saidnonresilient element surface, as to permit rocking of said restrainingmember relative to said nonresilient element for disengagement of saidmember from said interior lip.
 11. The package of claim 4 wherein saidrestraining members are adapted to nest one within another.
 12. Apackage for storing elements, said package comprising the combinationof: a hollow container and a restraining member; said restraining memberhaving a shape such as to define an axial direction and a radialdirection, and being resiliently radially compressible; said containerhaving an opening, and being shaped to store a plurality of elementsincluding said restraining element, all of said stored elements beingarranged in substantial alignment within said container; said containerhaving means to bias any of said elements contained therein toward saidopening; the opening of said container having an interior lip adapted topermit passage of at least one of said stored elements, but not of saidrestraining member when said restraining member is not radiallycompressed said restraining member having a geometry such that when saidmember is not radially compressed and is positioned within saidcontainer between said opening and said resilient stored element, and isdriven into abutting engagement with said interior lip of said containersaid restraining member responds by aligning itself axially with thedirection of alignment of said other element or elements stored in saidcontainer; said restraining member being sufficiently rigid in the axialdirection to resist deformation in response to axial compression againstsaid container lip whereby to prevent passage through said containeropening of any elements stored on the opposite side of said restrainingmember from said container opening; said member being removable bypressure to misalign the axis of said restraining member relative to thedirection of alignment of said stored elements; said restraining memberthen being sufficiently radially compressible against said container lipby the force of said biasing means to release said lip engagement andallow said restraining member to pass out of said container opening,whereby at least one of said elements stored on said opposite side ofsaid restraining member is removable from said container.
 13. Thepackage of claim 12 wherein said biasing means is a resilient memberacting to bias said supporting means toward said opening.
 14. Thepackage of claim 13 wherein said resilient member is a bellows formedintegrally with the walls of said container, and having a tendency tocontract in a manner to shorten said container.
 15. The package of claim1 wherein said restraining member has a concave configuration includinga bottom for restraining said resilient element and a periphery taperingradially outwardly; said periphery being resiliently flexible radiallyinwardly; and the largest diameter of said periphery being sized toenter said container opening by passing said interior lip with radiallyinward deformation, and thereafter to spring radially outwardly intoengagement therewith.